LAXATIVE AND NUTRIENT 719 



into the rectum, these large quantities of fluid are in great 

 part retained, with the effect of softening and mechanically 

 removing obstructions. 



Tolerably copious clysters of tepid water or other bland 

 fluid exert local soothing effects, not only on the intestines, 

 but they also reflexly allay irritability, spasm, and pain of 

 the urino-genital organs, and frequently relieve suppression 

 of urine. Their efficacy is sometimes increased by addition 

 of opium and sedatives, which are used in about the same 

 doses as are given by the mouth. By reflex action the 

 kidneys, bladder, and uterus are also sometimes beneficially 

 acted upon by stimulant enemata. For destroying and dis- 

 lodging the oxyuris curvula, clysters of turpentine and lime 

 water, and of solutions of aloes, quassia, ferric chloride, 

 or common salt, are effectual. In house dogs, troubled with 

 constipation and haemorrhoids, the cautious daily injection 

 of two or three ounces of cold water proves serviceable. 



When intended to be retained and absorbed, enemas 

 should be limited in amount. To allay irritation and spasm 

 in troublesome diarrhoea and dysentery, vegetable astrin- 

 gents, opium, and lead acetate are given, usually with well- 

 boiled tepid starch gruel. In such cases the injection may 

 be repeated every hour or two, so long as straining or 

 diarrhoea continues. Rectal injections intended to produce 

 general effects should be warm and concentrated. Nutrient 

 enemata, useful in tetanus, sore-throat, and debilitating 

 complaints, when patients will not or cannot eat, usually 

 consist of a pint or two of linseed tea, with milk and eggs, 

 or of strong beef tea introduced at a temperature of 100 

 Fahr., and repeated not oftener than four or five times 

 in the twenty-four hours. In cases of influenza in horses 

 and distemper in dogs, a little wine or whisky is sometimes 

 added to the nutrient enema. 



The apparatus for giving enemata are Higginson's 

 rubber syringe ; Read's patent clyster syringe, improved 

 by Arnold, which is also available as a stomach pump ; the 

 far-reaching apparatus, with six feet of rubber tubing, 

 already described ; Gamgee's block-tin funnel, which fills 

 the rectum by gravitation, and obviates the necessity of 

 pumping ; and the common barrel syringe, of tinned copper, 



